ZRabbits First Lion Head Litter

[ZRabbits]

Luna and Neville's, my Double Mane Lion Heads, babies are doing well. 16 days old now. Just amazing the change from the first time I peeked to see if any kits on October 4th.

With a Blue Tort (Neville) and a Chocolate Broken (Luna) here is what they produced. All solids.

The Whites

The Chocolates

My Husband holding the Biggest White, who was the biggest baby of Luna's Litter.

Here is the tiniest baby that we gave extra feedings to at the beginning. He's the most active and my squirmy baby. I was so afraid he/she was the one I was going to loose at the beginning. But truly is a fighter.

And can't forget the "Bunny Watcher", lol. Jake checked out the newest members of the Z Tribe. And the newest member checked him out as well.

I'm so proud of my First Time Mom, Luna. She's doing excellent on raising her kits. Plus the nervousness of them exploring the crate has ceased. She's more laid back and will stretch out and watch her babies. Thought this morning was a bit unusual. First time the babies left nest box and search her out to feed. She was a bit confused but once they were all back in the nest box, she did her duty with feeding her kits.

It's been an absolute amazing experience which I hope to continue. I am hoping that one of these REW's or Chocolate are does so that I can breed back to Neville. I plan to hold on to the kits until at least 4 months to see what I truly have. Every day I do hold and talk to the kits so when they go to their homes they will be more socialized.

I'm enjoying my Lion Head experience and hope to one day take one of my babies and put them on the table. Also I've got my ARBA application ready to go and plan on getting Z-Rabbits Registered. I want to be part of the Lion Head Team.

Karen

 

[Demamma]

what cute bunnies

 

[ilovehome]

Looking good! Boy, the dog is intense about them buns! LOL

 

[garden lady]

Very nice! It is nice to have does that take care of the babies.

 

[ZRabbits]

Looking good! Boy, the dog is intense about them buns! LOL

Thanks.

And yes dog is intense about his rabbits. Plus that was the first time he saw the little ones. It was "What the heck are these things?, moment for him. Then he made sure he slimmed them (nice big lick), like he's done with all the rest of the Z-Tribe, marking them as his own.

Karen<br /><br />__________ Sun Oct 21, 2012 4:10 am __________<br /><br />

Very nice! It is nice to have does that take care of the babies.

So true. We sure did luck out with Luna. We just can't believe how well she's taking care of them. And also allows us to fuss over the babies. Truly trusts us with her kits.

Karen

 

[skysthelimit]

They are adorable.

 

[ZRabbits]

They are adorable.

Thanks Sky. They are really starting to grow plus their fur is starting to change to feel like the wooly texture that both Neville and Luna have. It took them longer to get their fur, but that's because of the DM gene. I'm really excited to see how they mature. Going to hold on to them a bit longer than some do so that I can see how they mature. Hoping that I have one Chocolate doe to breed back to Neville. Plus I want to hand raise them so that I can sell as pets or show. Good temperament is a must. The ability to deal with handling is always a step in the right direction.

Karen

 

[Bad Habit]

I've noticed with my babies that all the double manes seem to have more wedge shaped faces, while the single manes have rounder faces. Your dm's seem to have the awkwardly shaped heads too. I had wondered if it was Lily having ND so close in her background, now I'm wondering about the genetics.

Super cute though. Too bad no brokens, but I'd love a chocolate

 

[ZRabbits]

I've noticed with my babies that all the double manes seem to have more wedge shaped faces, while the single manes have rounder faces. Your dm's seem to have the awkwardly shaped heads too. I had wondered if it was Lily having ND so close in her background, now I'm wondering about the genetics.

Super cute though. Too bad no brokens, but I'd love a chocolate

The Wedged shaped faces lean more towards the Angora with the ND body structure. You will get round faces with a first generation (when you introduce a ND into your lion head breed). Seems to be a pattern that's been documented. If you notice the kits do have a rounded forehead (like ND) but their noses are more Angora shaped.

Definitely look into the genetics of the Lion head. It's been a fascinating learning experience to actually see a breed being developed.

Here's the Club that I have joined.
http://www.lionhead.us/

Also found this website. I know you are trying to work on BEW's. Right now REW's are being shown to help bring this breed into acceptance under ARBA standards. And as time goes on, more and more information is coming out pertaining to the Lion head DM breed. Be patient. More colors are being worked on. Would love to see you accomplish your BEW goal.

http://www.freewebs.com/talisienlionhea ... mation.htm

Not upset about no brokens. Maybe in Luna's future litters, a pretty broken will show up. Never know. But she gave me two beautiful Chocolates and two beautiful REW's in her first ever litter. And they are healthy!

Karen

 

[Random Rabbit]

awwww ! They certainly are cuties !!!

 

[Asinaway]

Awwww now those are some cuties! May I ask, how is the temperment on the lion heads? We don't have a lot around my area, never have actually seen one up close for a long time.

 

[ZRabbits]

Awwww now those are some cuties! May I ask, how is the temperment on the lion heads? We don't have a lot around my area, never have actually seen one up close for a long time.

Thanks for the compliment. I have to say my lion heads have very good temperament. The breeder that I got them from was very "hands on". All her kits from Day One are handled and she makes sure that no kits, who are skittish leave her rabbitry or does she continue with them as breeding stock. Like any breed, small or big, there are a few that can be standoffish or nasty. Both buck and doe came from the same breeder, both have turned out to be very calm, curious rabbits. I've started handling my first litter from Day One and after two weeks, none of them shy away from me or try to hide. All are very curious of their surroundings.

Karen

 

[JessicaR]

very sweet!! Makes me miss my lionheads! I had Vm's and BEW.

 

[ZRabbits]

very sweet!! Makes me miss my lionheads! I had Vm's and BEW.

Thanks so much JessicaR. Can just imagine how lovely your VM's and BEW's were. Really loving my REW's. So glad to see the Chocolate though. Love color. Maybe they will shade out to torts? Don't know but will enjoy watching them flourish.

Love your Netherlands. Read you have lots of babies! So thrilled all went well. Can't wait to see pics.

Karen

 

[JessicaR]

Well I do still have pictures of them :lol: My doe was a blue tort Vm and the buck was a BEW, double mane but he didnt keep his mane very good. I have been thinking again of getting another lionhead... hubby is thinking of making me live outside with the rabbits :lol:

Right now I have the 2 mini rex litters and hopefully in 2 weeks I will have my first ND litter!

 

[ZRabbits]

Absolutely gorgeous Lion Heads, Jessica. Your husband wouldn't make you live outside with the rabbits if you got Lion heads again, lol. But I don't want to start trouble. You have lovely Mini-Rex litters now and a ND litter on the way. Plus those beautiful puppies. Dogs are always puppies to me. Lot on your plate. As long as you are both enjoying it, no need to add any more breeds. Can't wait to see pics of your new litter of kits and puppies (in the future).

Karen

 

[JessicaR]

DH threatens all the time, but then I see him cuddled up with the cats or petting the dogs he is such a big softie :lol: I just tell him I am a stay at home mom whose kids are all in school, the animals give me something to do during the day! If I had the cage space I would probably be getting 1 or 2 lionheads but alas I will just have to make due with the pictures of your pretty little lions :lol:

 

[ZRabbits]

DH threatens all the time, but then I see him cuddled up with the cats or petting the dogs he is such a big softie :lol: I just tell him I am a stay at home mom whose kids are all in school, the animals give me something to do during the day! If I had the cage space I would probably be getting 1 or 2 lionheads but alas I will just have to make due with the pictures of your pretty little lions :lol:

Well I'll definitely supply the pics to help quench your thirst of Lion Heads. As you can tell, the pride shows on all my Tribe members.

The Lion Head kits are getting so big and the darker ones, that I thought were chocolate are turning to a "gun metal" color. And showing a pattern. I think the pattern of shaded, not broken. Should be really interesting. I think Neville's black background is punching through. I was amazed that REW is considered in the Black family. So the darker kits could be Blue's in the making. It's possible. Only time will tell. Will post more pics soon.

BTW, please, oh please post pics of your new kits! Love seeing all types of breeds and how they develop into their mature years.

Karen<br /><br />__________ Tue Oct 23, 2012 5:05 am __________<br /><br />Well, time flies watching kits, lol. I can't believe my first litter is coming up on 3 weeks old already. Luna, for a first time Mom, has done a wonderful job. Babies are all alert, well fed and are now more active and eating pellets and hay like Mom does. And of course, they are starting to drive her nuts, lol. What patience she exhibits.

Question from a newbie, when should I remove the nest box. I would like to give Luna and babies more room to move around. Also, when should I start removing the bigger kits? At 4 or 5 weeks, and then remove the smaller kits at 6 weeks? Need to know and would appreciate anyone giving some advise!

They are truly doing well and want to continue Luna's successful mothering by making the right decisions.

Karen

 

[JessicaR]

I usually remove the nestbox by 3 weeks old in the winter, and 2 weeks in the summer. I also keep the babies with mom until they are about 6 weeks. I will probably leave the ND kits with mom until they are 8 weeks, just because they are so small. I know some people remove them sooner, but I figure as long as everyone is doing good, why move them. Of course if i ever had a huge litter I would probably remove the bigger kits sooner.

 

[ZRabbits]

I usually remove the nestbox by 3 weeks old in the winter, and 2 weeks in the summer. I also keep the babies with mom until they are about 6 weeks. I will probably leave the ND kits with mom until they are 8 weeks, just because they are so small. I know some people remove them sooner, but I figure as long as everyone is doing good, why move them. Of course if i ever had a huge litter I would probably remove the bigger kits sooner.

Thanks Jessica. Appreciate the info. I'll wait a couple days and remove the nestbox at 3 weeks. It will definitely give the kits room to roam. Plus my husband will mount a shelf so that Luna can get up and relax. And since Luna just has the 4, I'll wait and see at 6 weeks how all are doing. If I have to, I'll wait the 8 weeks. No rush here.

Thanks again!

Karen